Top 5 TV Shows of All-Time

[Sibelius Hindemith]

I wonder what Mostonmike's top 5 would be. Perhaps...

Doctor Who - (maybe) had some great episodes, I think everyone in the UK has their "favourite Doctor" and for me it was Tennant. So can't keep it in the Top 5
Fawlty Towers - (yes) it's genius
The Bugaloos - (no) never heard of it
Red Dwarf - (yes) also genius, that would be in my Top 5 of UK shows
Upstairs Downstairs - (no) absolutely painful, same for Downton Fkn Abbey, something the UK women watch.

Only Fools and Horses and Blackadder would be in my top 5 UK shows along with Red Dwarf and Fawlty Towers, I could spend years picking the 5th one.

BUT- I'll go with "Top 5 TV Shows of All-Time that didn't originate in the UK" to keep this as some kind of recognition of the USA's best work:

1. Family Ties - first introduction to American humour as a kid, Fox was funny and is someone I hold in high esteem.
2. Star Trek (Shatner series) - my dad loved it and I watched it with him a lot. I even remember recording all 79 episodes on VHS for him so he could watch it when he wanted. That was some task when they effectively syndicated it here every night for about 16 weeks. He watched every subsequent version whereas I couldn't, but fond memories of that show.
3. Dallas & Dynasty - strange choice but again we were wowed with the glossy production and we thought "that's what America is like" - they'd run Dallas for 22 weeks or whatever it was then we'd see the next series of Dynasty. Don't tell me you didn't go mad over "Who Shot JR" - it was incredible stuff.
4. L.A. Law - All legal procedurals were fascinating to me and Mrs Moston - we loved The Practice and Boston Legal too, remember Murder One? Great shows which we could get nowhere near producing. It's L.A. Law that wins it.
5. Cheers - bit sad that we couldn't watch it religiously over here as it was buried late on Friday nights and it was pre-DVR era, but the fact I've watched numerous episodes again-and-again suggests it stands the test of time. Friends on the other hand - a load of bollocks and I've never watched a single episode in full.

Close mentions - Lost could have been the greatest of all-time if it didn't disappear up its own arse after about 2 seasons. Diff'rent Strokes was cool. Twilight Zone was mentioned earlier and I agree - what a pity it never became a mainstream classic instead of the cult hit it is. I hear Netflix has bought Roald Dahl's Tales of the Unexpected and that might be the one - so far Black Mirror is the best Anthology show but not strong enough for Top 5.

Thanks for that Mike. I'm not familiar with Only Fools and Horses. Among my parents favorite shows were All Creatures and Poirot. I think the Jeremy Brett Sherlock Holmes has the highest production value of any television show i have seen, followed by Nero Wolfe with Timothy Hutton and i am a big fan of both. I used to watch the Red Dwarf marathons on PBS back in ths 90s but never got into Doctor Who which they also aired regularly and still do. I have seen a handful of Fawlty Towers and Black Adder episodes and liked both. Another series i really enjoyed was Father Cadfael.

[D-train]

How is there no mention of Monty Python or Mr. Bean?

[mostonmike]

Best 5 minutes in the history of American Television.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CBgpo1Vc4g8

If that shows the heart of the show after he passed away - then its a fine tribute. Cute and beautiful and still a key lesson in life however many decades have passed since it was shown.

Yep, it looks like we missed out...

I'm guaranteed now to get some clips recommended by YouTube's algorithm so I look forward to seeing what it will throw up....

[mostonmike]

How is there no mention of Monty Python or Mr. Bean?

Python was just a few years before I was born, they went into the films when I was a young 'un. We didn't see any repeats/reruns until later years. So good, but it bypassed me a little.

Bean I think was a bit stupid - Rowan Atkinson is an extraordinary actor, as in Blackadder - but I just thought Bean was a bit of a dick.

[D-train]

The only thing I miss about Boston is an Irish breakfast. This is hilarious. SPAM!!!!!!!!!!!!!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=anwy2MPT5RE

[D-train]

How is there no mention of Monty Python or Mr. Bean?

Python was just a few years before I was born, they went into the films when I was a young 'un. We didn't see any repeats/reruns until later years. So good, but it bypassed me a little.

Bean I think was a bit stupid - Rowan Atkinson is an extraordinary actor, as in Blackadder - but I just thought Bean was a bit of a dick.

I appreciate your honesty my friend. Cleese was great in a fish called Wanda. That's how most Americans know him.

[mostonmike]

Only Fools and Horses

This was classic British "working class" sitcom. Two brothers who tried to make a living wheeling-and-dealing in South London.

Anyway — if anyone wants to give it a look, here is my recommendation if you can find it anywhere (only problem is accessing it - I think you can only see it on BritBox unless you can VEE-PEE-EN onto BBC iPlayer in UK)

Start with S02E06 – "A Touch of Glass". One of the funniest moments in British sitcom history happens in this episode. No spoilers, but it gives you a great insight into the characters.

Then tune into S04E02 – "Strained Relations". I won't describe the episode; it speaks for itself. Something you've probably never seen in sitcom history. Then just start watching it from that point forward and see where you get to.

The show ended in 1996 with another set of 3 incredible Christmas episodes and should have stayed ended there. But they brought it back for 3 more in '01/'02/'03 which were a bit of an anti-climax.

Only 64 episodes were ever made, but if you check out these two and give them your full attention, you might get why it drew over 24 million viewers for its 1996 finale.

[D-train]

Only Fools and Horses

This was classic British "working class" sitcom. Two brothers who tried to make a living wheeling-and-dealing in South London.

Anyway — if anyone wants to give it a look, here is my recommendation if you can find it anywhere (only problem is accessing it - I think you can only see it on BritBox unless you can VEE-PEE-EN onto BBC iPlayer in UK)

Start with S02E06 – "A Touch of Glass". One of the funniest moments in British sitcom history happens in this episode. No spoilers, but it gives you a great insight into the characters.

Then tune into S04E02 – "Strained Relations". I won't describe the episode; it speaks for itself. Something you've probably never seen in sitcom history. Then just start watching it from that point forward and see where you get to.

The show ended in 1996 with another set of 3 incredible Christmas episodes and should have stayed ended there. But they brought it back for 3 more in '01/'02/'03 which were a bit of an anti-climax.

Only 64 episodes were ever made, but if you check out these two and give them your full attention, you might get why it drew over 24 million viewers for its 1996 finale.

What are your thoughts on Ricky Gervais?

[D-train]

I shall watch it. Strained relations is the story of my life...

[mostonmike]

What are your thoughts on Ricky Gervais?

I think we adopt a classic Three-Act approach to almost every British celebrity:

Act 1: We root for the underdog / the new guy.

Act 2: Tall Poppy Syndrome kicks in. If they get a bit full of themselves, we cut down the flower that grows too big for the garden.

Act 3: If they survive, we acknowledge their hard work, resilience, and willingness to reinvent themselves—and they earn "National Treasure" status.

Gervais has definitely gone through all three. The Office (UK) was brilliant. Then he went into that smug/Hollywood era—even with the Golden Globes, as incredibly funny as he was, there was a sense of arrogant schmoozing beneath it. But then he did After Life, and I think he completely won over anyone who doubted he'd make it to Act 3. His last couple of stand-ups did seem to learn from the Globes—he has funny things to say and now does it with self-deprecation. And self-deprecation is the most admired quality over here.

So yeah, I'm a fan again.